New Delhi, India: India and Pakistan have accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement just hours after both nations announced they had reached a deal to halt military strikes.
The ceasefire followed four days of intense cross-border conflict, which was the worst military confrontation between the two countries in decades.
The fighting began when India targeted sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to a deadly militant attack in Pahalgam last month, an attack that Pakistan denied involvement in.
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US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire on his Truth Social platform, stating it had been brokered by the US, and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister confirmed the agreement, noting that ‘three dozen countries’ were involved in the diplomatic efforts.
However, after the announcement, residents in Srinagar and Jammu, Indian-administered Kashmir, reported hearing explosions and seeing flashes in the sky. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accused Pakistan of repeated violations, calling it a breach of the understanding.
In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed commitment to the ceasefire and called for both sides to exercise restraint, despite what it called violations by India. Indian authorities stated that their armed forces were responding appropriately to the situation.
Kashmir, a region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has been a long-standing flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed nations, leading to multiple wars.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the ceasefire, stating that both countries had ‘worked out an understanding’ to stop military actions. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed this sentiment, calling the ceasefire a positive step for all.
The ceasefire comes after two weeks of tension following a militant attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists. The attack targeted mainly Hindu men, and Indian authorities said the recent strikes were in response to holding those responsible accountable.
Pakistan called India’s airstrikes and cross-border shelling ‘unprovoked’ and reported casualties from the attacks, including 36 deaths in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India reported at least 21 civilian deaths from Pakistani shelling.
Following the ceasefire, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that India and Pakistan would begin talks on a broad range of issues at a neutral site.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed efforts to de-escalate the conflict, and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed Britain’s involvement in supporting talks, emphasizing the importance of making the ceasefire lasting and enduring.
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